Even after all these years away from South Bend, former Notre Dame standout Austin Carr still keeps close tabs on the fortunes of the Irish men's basketball team.

Even after all these years have passed, and the memories have faded some, Austin Carr is coming home.

"Oh, man, that's where I grew up," said Carr, the all-time leading scorer in school history who will be inducted into the Notre Dame Ring of Honor at halftime of Saturday's game against Seton Hall. "That's where I grew to understand life and how to become a man in society.

"It's going to be unbelievable to be back. I'll be home."

The best -- ever

Carr never planned on scoring more points -- 2,560 -- than anyone in Notre Dame history. Back in his days in college, freshmen weren't even eligible to compete in varsity athletics.

Carr spent his first winter away from his Washington home on the Irish freshman team. Yes, he was good. Yes, he was talented, but at the end of the day, he was far from the spotlight of major college basketball.

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"My freshman year was off the charts," he said. "But the varsity was a totally different animal."

It was one that bit Carr during his sophomore season. Slowed by a broken foot, Carr posted solid numbers (22.0 ppg) in only 16 games. He seldom showed any sustained signs of what was to follow.

Only as a junior, finally fit and focused, did the 6-foot-5 Carr take his game to whole different level. It was one that maybe only one peer at the time -- Pete Maravich at LSU -- could mirror.

"I never had any idea how good I could be until my junior year," Carr said. "That's when things blossomed."

As a junior, Carr became only the second player (along with Maravich) to date in NCAA history to score at least 1,000 points in a season. His 1,106 points included 45 against Iowa and 50 against powerhouse Kentucky.

That also was the season that saw Carr score a staggering 61 points in the 1970 NCAA Tournament game against Ohio University. The record still stands.

The moment might rank near the top of Carr's memories, along the 1971 streak-breaking upset of UCLA, if only he had understood what was unfolding before former Irish coach Johnny Dee brought him to the bench in the game's closing minutes.

"I knew I was playing well, but I didn't know I was close to 60," Carr said. "People still talk about that. I have to apologize to the Ohio people all the time."

A senior season was even more special. Carr again scored more than 1,000 points, earned consensus All-America honors and was recognized as the National Player of the Year. One of 10 consensus All-Americans to play at Notre Dame, Carr scored at least 40 points 23 times.

He ended his career fifth on the all-time NCAA career scoring charts. He averaged 41.3 points in the NCAA Tournament. A two-time team captain, Carr averaged 34.6 points over a three-year career that included only 74 varsity games.

Yet one hole remains.

"My only disappointment was that I never got to the Final Four," Carr said. "But my college experience, I would definitely do it again."

A Notre Dame man

Carr was the first overall selection of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1971 NBA draft. A nine-year career with three teams and a 15.4 scoring average followed before Carr retired from the Dallas Mavericks in 1981. He returned to Cleveland, where he has become known as "Mr. Cavalier."

Today, at age 63, he works as the director of community relations for the Cavaliers and also offers television color commentary on NBA games for Fox Sports Ohio.

His wine-and-gold No. 34 hangs retired in the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.

"I've done a lot here, done everything but be the coach and the general manager," he said. "It's such a big part of my life."

So too is Notre Dame. Seldom does a day pass that he's not reminded in some way about that school back in South Bend. On a crisp February morning, with a game against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers hours away, Carr is running errands around downtown Cleveland and talking on his cell phone.

A man wearing a Notre Dame hat approaches. Carr cannot resist.

"Good to see you," he said. "Have a great day."

The man can be heard offering a halfhearted thanks, and then a more pronounced "Hey...thanks!" as he realizes who has just delivered the kind word.

Moments like those are many for Carr, who follows the Irish basketball program with consistent interest. Some days are easier, or maybe tougher, than others to keep tabs on the alma mater.

"It's funny how the world works," he said. "When Notre Dame loses, everybody wants to razz you, but when they're doing OK, it's like everybody is quiet.